US2580080A - Device fob automatically stopping - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 25, 1951 DEWHIRST 2,580,080

' DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY STOPPING MOTOR VEHICLE ENGINES AFTER PREDETERMINED IDLING PERIOD Filed Dec. 18, 1950 IGNIT'ION 5Y5 Tam ZSnventor attorneg Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY STOPPING MOTOR VEHICLE ENGINES AFTER PREDE- TERMINED IDLING PERIOD Joseph F. Dewhirst, Bridgeport, Conn. ApplicationDecember 18, 1950, Serial No. 201,391,

6 Claims.

' The present invention relates to a device forthe continued operation of an engine if it is left running unintentionally,- or in the case of delivery trucks and the like, if the delivery man leaves the engine running for a relatively long period while making a delivery. Thus in the case of a milk truck the timer means employed as a part of the device can be set so that it will not stop the' engine during normal door-to-door delivery periods requiring the stoppage of the truck for only a minute or so, but will stop the engine if the milkman is delayed for an unusually long period, say four minutes or more.

In addition to preventing needless idling of the engine with a consequent saving in gas and oil as well as wear and detriment to the engine and associated battery and other operating parts from overheating, low oil pressure, etc., the invention also has for an object the protection of the lubrieating system of the engine, stopping operation of the engine in the event that the oil is insufiicient for the proper running of the engine, or,

when there is inadequate or faulty oil pressure due to oil leaks, oil blocks or other causes. To this endit is proposed to provide an automatic device for breaking the ignition circuit and shutting off the engine after a predetermined period when the engine is idling and the oil pressure is at a predetermined low pressure, or in the case of the engine running at normal speeds when the oil pres,- sure is below normal due to inadequate or faulty lubrication.

With the above and other objects in view an embodiment of the invention is shown in the acmmpanying drawing, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: 1

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device, partially broken away and partially in vertical section, and

showing schematically the electrical connections with the starter and ignition system of the automobile engine.

Fig. 2 is a vertical. sectional view taken along the line 2- -2 of Fig. 1.'

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings the main control parts of the device are contained in a box H), of generally rectangular form and preferably constructed of metal, provided with a cover I I hinged at l2 and provided with a hasp [3 adapted to be secured by a suitable seal I4, so'that the operating parts of the device cannot be tampered with to render them inoperative without first breaking the seal.

Upon one wall of the container there is mounted an oil pressure operated unit I 5, shown in the form of a bellows 16 having a plunger H at one end adapted to be projected when a predetermined oil pressure exists within the bellows, the bellows being normally retained in its retracted position by a spring l8. The bellows is provided with a threaded stud l9 engaged through a hole 20 in the wall of the container and secured therein by a nut 2|, the stud having connected thereto the end of an oil pressure supply pipe 22 con nected by a union 23 at a suitable point in the oil line of the engine, shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention as the tube 24 connected to the oil filter 25. Within the oil line 22 there is provided a pressure regulator '26 adapted to be adjusted so as to reduce whatever idling oil pressure exists in a particular engine to the requirements of the bellows, thus making the device adaptable to widely different conditions. Thus if the bellows is adaptedv to operate at pressures in excess ofi6 lbs. the regulator may be adjusted so as to deliver 6 lbs. pressure to the bellows when the oil pressure is either above or below. this amount. Thus the device may be adapted for use with an engine where the idling oil pressure may be as much as 15 lbs. as well as to an engine where the idling pressure is as low as 3 or 4 lbs.

Within the container there is also mounted a timer switch unit 2] having a pivoted reset arm 28 ands. switch 29, the timer mechanism being such that in the normal position of the arm shown in full lines the switch is open, and in the reset position shown in dotted lines the switch is closed, and remains closed as the arm moves back to the full line position at which time the switch opens automatically. The timer is preferably adjustable so that the timing period required for the movement of the arm from its reset to its normal position may be varied as desired. Timer devices of this type are well known being used on automatic washers, toasters, industrial ap- For the purpose or" operating the timer-by means of the oil pressure unit there is-provio'ed a lever 39 pivotally mounted-upon apost 3i and provided at its lower end with a roller 32 engaging one side of the reset lever' zfl the lever 36 being connected to the plunger i? by a rod 33 screwed at one end-within the plunger and pivotally connected at its other end to th e lever by a pin 34 engaging a slot 35 inthe lever. Thus when the oil pressure is reduced during idling of the engine, or for other reasons, the bellows is retracted'and the timer is in its normal switch opening position as shownin full lines. iAny increase in'the speed of the engine, such as putting a truck in motion is normally sunicient 'tocause considerable increase in'the oil pressure and thus "cause the bellows to be" projected and the timer to befreset, thus closing the timer switch which is suitably connected" in the ignition system so that the ignition system is complete whenthe timer switch is closed, allowing the engine to run, andis broken when the timer switch is open,, thus stopping the engine.

'The connection with the ignition system is 'shown'schematically in Fig. l, and consists of a lead36 extending from one side of the timer set the timer, so that during normal operation of the vehicle the oil pressure actuated means will take over the automatic operation of the device to keep the engine running. Whenever the engine is allowed to idle for the predetermined period for which the timer is set, or in the event thatthere isv insufi'icient or faulty lubrication, thetimer-Will automaticallyshut' off the engine.

It will be understood that instead of the oil pressure actuated bellows, other well known "means capable of converting changes in oil pressu r'eto' mechanical motion may be employed. It is also pointed -out that the electrical circuits switch 29 to one side of the key-operated ignition switch 3'1, the other side of which is connected by a lead'38 to the battery 39. which isgrounded in the usual manner, as at 46. The other side of the timer'switch is connected by a lead H to the coil 42' of the ignition system of the engine which system is grounded in the usual manner as atfta.

In order to close the ignition system upon "starting the engine, and before'the oil'press'ure of the engine is raised to the point where it will take over the automatic operation of the device,

a solenoid 44 is provided in the boxlil and has its core 45 connected by a link 46 to the reset lever 28, The solenoid is connected at one side by a lead 41 to the startercircuit and is" grounded at" its other side as at 48. The lead 41 is connected to the first contact of a three-contact i starter button or switch 49, a lead 5%! extending "from the secondcontact to one side of the starter 5| which isgrounded' at'its other side as at 52. The starter circuit is completed to the battery 39 by a lead 53 extending from the third contact of the starter button to the battery. fTh'us when the starter buttonis pressed to rep-ems the starter, the solenoid is simultaneously energized to pull the reset lever into its dotted line position to close the timer switchand'thus close"the' 'cir cuit of theignition'system,"theignition'switchti having previouslyfbeen closed-asa preliminary "to the starting operation.

After the engine is started it will run at idling "speed for'the' predeternriined period'fo'i' whicHthe timer is set, and will'be 'automatically'shutofi if it is allowed to idleibeyondthepredetermined set period. Any accelerationoftheengine however will produce an increase 'inthej oil pressure and will therefore "operatethe" plunger" l l "to remay include relays, transformers and other suitable elements in accordance with well known electrical engineering practice. The three-contact --switcl 1' 4-9-may, if desired, be of a type to allow for resetting the timer independently of the starter. I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of the invention but it will'be understood that changes maybe'made therein, within the spirit and. scope 'th'ereoffas defined in the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

1'. Anidling period control device for an engine having means to control the stopping'of the engine and an'oil pressure lubricatin'gfsys- 'tem, comprising oil pressureactuated means adapted to be connected to the oil pressurei'lubricating system and movable between relatively low and high oil'pressure positions,"timer means having a predetermined operating period and includingreset means arranged to be a'ctuated to reset position by movement of said'oil pressure-actuated means intohigh oil pressure position, and means adaptedflto be operatively connected to said control means to stop the engine at the end of said operating period of said timer means.

2-. .Anidling period control device ior'a'n engine having means 'to control the stoppingof the engine, and an oil pressure lubricating system, comprising oil pressure actuated means adapted to be connected to the oil'pressure lubricating system and movable between relatively low and high oilpre's'sure positions, timer means having. a predetermined operatingpe'riod and including reset ineans'arra'nged to be actuated to reset position by movement of said'oil pressure. actuated meansinto high oil pressure posison," and means adapted tobe'operatiyeIy connected tosaid control means to stop the engine at the end of said operating period of said timer means, and means arranged to actuate said reset means independently of said oil .pressure actuated means.

3. An idling period control device for an engine having -means to control the stopping of the engine, an oil pressure lubricating system,

and an electrical starter circuit, comprising-oil pressure actuated means adapted to be connected to the oil pressure lubricating system and movable between relatively low and high oil'pressurepositions, timer means-having a predetermined operatingperiod and including'reset' means arranged to be actuated to reset position' -by movement of said oil pressureactuatedmeans into high oil'pre-ssure position; and means adapted to be operatively connected to'said control means Stop the engine at'theendof' said operating period of said timer means, and a solenoid arranged to actuate said reset means independently of said oil pressure actuated imeans and adapted to be connected to said electrical starter circuit for actuation through closing of said starter circuit.

4. An idling period control device for an engine having an electrical circuit to control the stopping of the engine, and an oil pressure lubricating system, comprising oil pressure actuated means adapted to be connected to the oil pressure lubricating system and movable between relatively low and high oil pressure positions, timer means having a predetermined operating period and including reset means arranged to be actuated to reset position by movement of said oil pressure actuated means into high oil pressure position, and a switch adapted to be closed during said operating period and to be opened at the end of said period, said switch adapted to be interposed in said electrical con trol circuit to stop the engine upon opening of said switch. 7

5. An idling period control device for an engine having an electrical circuit to control the stopping of the engine, and an oil pressure lubricating system, comprising oil pressure actuated means adapted to be connected to the oil pressure lubricating system and movable between relatively low and high oil pressure positions, timer means having a predetermined operating period and including reset means arranged to be actuated to reset position by movement of said oil pressure actuated means into high oil pressure position and a switch adapted to be closed during said operating period and to be opened at the end of said period, said switch adapted to be interposed in said electrical con- 6 trol circuit to stop the engine upon opening of said switch, and means arranged to actuate said reset means independently of said oil pressure actuated means.

6. An idling period controldevice for an engine having an electrical circuit to control the stopping of the engine, an oil pressure lubricating system, and an electrical starter circuit, comprising oil pressure actuated means adapted to be connected to the oil pressure lubricating system and movable between relatively low and high oil pressure positions, timer means having a predetermined operating period and including reset means arranged to be actuated to reset position by movement of said oil pressure actuated means into high oil pressure position and a switch adapted to be closed during said operating period and to be opened at the end of said period, said switch adapted to be interposed in said electrical control circuit to stop the engine upon opening of said switch, and a solenoid arranged to actuate said reset means independently of said oil pressure actuated means and adapted to be connected to said electrical starter circuit for actuation through closing of said starter circuit.

JOSEPH F. DEWHIRST.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Ellis Dec. 3, 1929 Number

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